Laois hurlers taking their skills Down Under

B/R: 3rd from the left Damien Bowe (Rathdowney Errill), Last on the right is Tucker Kerwin (Shanahoe) F/R: first on left Colin Delaney (Camross), 3rd in from left Paul Kerwin (Shanahoe), fourth, fifth and sixth in from left are Willie Delaney, Eddie Brennan and Mick Brennan (all Rathdowney Errill)

Meet the group of Laois hurlers who are taking Australia by storm.

The Rathdowney-Errill quartet of Damien Bowe, Willie Delaney, Eddie Brennan and Mick Brennan have been lining out for the Sydney Shamrocks hurling team alongside the Shanahoe duo of Paul Kerwin and Tucker Kerwin as well as Camross’s Colin Delaney for the last number of years.

The seven were all part of the Sydney Shamrocks team that are the current champions of New South Wales hurling league and championship.

They recently competed in a 7-aside tournament in Melbourne and although that didn’t go too well, Shanahoe’s Paul Kerwin says his side are looking forward to another good year.

He said: “Unfortunately we didn’t do to good in the tournament, but it was only a preseason 7-aside tournament in Melbourne.

“We are current champions of New South Wales hurling league and championship, and we hope to retain those titles this year.

“In total there are 12 lads from Laois from various clubs playing with Sydney Shamrocks which have helped to make it a home away from home.

“We are all based in Sydney and most of us have been here for between two and six years.

“Most of us would of hurled against each other back home but it’s good to join forces out here and play together, and help the GAA grow abroad.”

Stradbally native Alan Hartnett is a graduate of Knockbeg College who has worked in the local and national media since 2008. Alan has a BA in Economics, Politics and Law and an MA in Journalism from DCU. His happiest moment was when Jody Dillon scored THAT goal in the Laois senior football final in 2016.